Chapter Fifteen: Sophia

We enter the luxury five-star hotel, and it has me floating on a cloud as if I’m living in some sort of fantasy world. This can be my life as a high-profile lawyer, and I can have this if I see it through. As I walk with Christopher through the lobby and past the restaurant to the elevators, he beams, turning around to gauge my reaction.

“So, what do you think? It’s been a time, right?”

“Yes, it has. I’ve met so many people, and my purse is stacked with business cards,” I respond, overwhelmed by the high caliber of people I met, but despite all the people I met, the one who affected me the most was Andrei Utkin. The imprint of his hand is still on the small of my back, and I wish it wasn’t. God, why did he have to be there? Chills dot down my spine as I think about who would have let him out, because there’s something etched in the fiber of his being that leads me to believe he did everything they accused him of.

Chris snickers as we cross the carpeted floor, heading to the elevator. “I told you it would be a win for your career. And you handled yourself like a pro. I’m proud of you, and I’m glad I brought you,” he praises. It’s hard not to be taken in by the compliments he’s dishing out. It’s not as if he’s an ugly man. He’s the type of handsome that would suit most people, and his slicked, cropped side part works for him, but he’s no Andrei. I feel no attraction to him, but he still has the same hopeful glimmer in his eye that he had when we were sitting at the café.

“Thank you,” I sigh, still coming down from the night’s events. Right before we reach the lobby elevators a man calls out. I turn to see who it is. He’s dressed in a tuxedo, and of shorter stature with dark brown eyes, dark hair, and olive skin.

“Christopher!” He walks over solo, but his face is recognizable. I’m sure I’ve seen him before inside the event.

“Ah, Bruno. Nice to see you. Enjoy yourself tonight?” he asks as the man nods.

“I did. We raised a lot of money for a lot of people,” he concludes, reeking of cigars and cologne. His thick accent is Italian, and his eyes are intensely focused on me for some reason.

Immediately, his smile opens up, his teeth a shade whiter than normal. He kisses the back of my hand. “Bella, you look beautiful. Red is your color.”

“Bruno, this is Sophia Hearst. She’s a second-year law student at the Chicago School of Law. She accompanied me here tonight to enjoy the event,” he explains while Bruno assesses. I didn’t get a chance to speak with him, but I remember him being at the next table to us.

“Bravo, you’ll go far, I’m sure,” he adds, his attention returning to Chris. “We need to discuss business later, yes?” Chris doesn’t say anything, but he nods. “See you later, Sophia. Enjoy your stay at the hotel.” The lingering on the last sentence sends a weird signal to my brain, but I dismiss it as being an overload of people I’ve been introduced to for the night.

Chris guides me to the elevator, pressing the button, my nerves jumping. As we enter, Chris and I move to the back, the only ones in the elevator. “Most people from the gala event are staying here for the night. It’s a cool place. I stay here a lot when I’m in New York.”

“Oh, you do?” I say as the elevator doors shut and Chris presses the button to the tenth floor.

“Yep. Sure do.” If everybody’s staying here from the event, then that means Andrei is probably staying here too. Closing my eyes, I try to shake off his electrifying touch. Chris misconstrues it.

“Tired?”

“Yeah,” I tell him, Andrei’s face implanting into my brain. The elevator doors spring open as my pulse quickens. “I’m looking forward to turning in for the night, but I’m not ungrateful. Thank you so much for everything.”

Chris smiles, parking his hands on the railing behind him in the elevator. “Don’t mention it. It was my pleasure, and that dress is—” He holds up the OK symbol as I step out, knowing my hotel suite is down the opposite end of the hallway from him.

“Thanks.”

“Good night, Sophia. If you need anything, anything at all, I’m a phone call away, alright? I’ll take care of everything,” he adds with a show of concern.

“Appreciate it. Good night, Chris.” I head off in the opposite direction, glad enough when I get inside to take off my slingback pumps. They aren’t the best for walking around or standing and greeting people all night. The suite is immaculate, and the view of New York’s nightscape—breathtaking. I head over to take it all in, grinning to myself, knowing that Ava’s going to have a fit when I tell her about it.

I snap a couple of photos of myself in the window and head to the shower, washing off all the makeup and the day. What a night. So many smiling faces and people interested in me! It feels as if all my dreams are coming true, but then as I lather the luxury body wash down over my stomach, I think about the baby I’m carrying.

Don’t let him ruin the night. Enjoy this. You deserve it, and it’s all you’ve got. I wash my hair, towel drying off, and slipping into my pale pink camisole and shorts, letting myself tuck under the heavy sheets and duvet. They feel good against my skin, but when I lay my head on the pillow, I can’t stop thinking about Andrei.

He looked so good! Tall, and deliciously hot in his black suit. He wasn’t wearing a tie, but his shirt button being open at the top gave me goose bumps. What a man. A sexy image of his face hovering close to mine, sends a bunch of tingles through me. His eyes were the type you wanted to release yourself from because they held such captivating whirlpools of darkness in them, it made it hard to detach.

The tossing and turning keeps going, and I’m saved by the bell. Or am I? Anxiety runs the gamut through me as I quickly slide my feet into slippers, forgetting to put on my hotel robe, but I don’t plan on letting the person in, so it’s going to be fine.

“Ah hi, Chris. Everything okay?” I ask, relieved that it’s him, not Andrei, the man I’ve been obsessively thinking about.

Chris is still dressed partially in his suit slacks, but his collar shirt is haphazardly arranged, as if he’s about to go to bed. “I’m so sorry to bother you. It looks like you’re about to go to sleep, but my air-conditioning is out, and it’s kind of muggy in my room. Can I just make a quick call to reception from your room? So sorry again,” he says, regretful that he must ask. “I tried the phone in mine, and it’s not working either. I don’t know what’s up with this hotel,” he murmurs, raking a hand through his hair.

“Umm, yeah, sure. Come on in. I think the phone’s near the door right over there,” I tell him, pointing to the study desk.

“Great, great. He flicks on the lamp, and I’m happy for the distraction. I wasn’t sleeping anyway, only tossing and turning over a man I secretly crave but know is wrong to be with.

Maybe that’s the reason you want him. Because he’s off-limits. I let my train of thought run wherever it takes me as I watch Chris make the call to reception.

“Uh-huh. Great. It’s room 5089. Thanks.” He hangs up, plopping himself down in the chair and sensing his weariness, I offer him a drink from the mini bar.

“Do you want something from here?” I ask as he skims a hand over his forehead.

“Ah yeah. Do they have a scotch there? I think there’s ice in the bar fridge too from what I remember. Don’t quote me.” He grins affably as I relax, finding the miniature size bottle, pouring the amber liquid into the tumbler and adding ice and handing it to him.

Our fingers touch lightly, but I think nothing of it. He takes a sip as I opt for the bottle of water, and considering I’m carrying a baby and haven’t made a call yet, it’s safer for me.

“Aye, that’s good. Top-notch Scotch.” He nods, his eyes lingering on mine for a touch too long, but I’m not close enough to him to be worried. He’s been a gentleman the entire time—as we flew in business class, as he took me dress shopping, and to have my hair done. I felt like it was too much, but he assured me it was nothing.

“I’ve got a black card, and you’re not the needy type. It’s really like chump change to me. I want you to have the full experience of being at the gala and New York. Soak it up and enjoy.”

“I guess it would be. It’s such a swanky hotel here,” I gush, looking around at the amazing décor, and high-end furniture.

“Yep. Welcome to my life, Sophia. And it can be yours too, if you’re willing to work hard enough. Did you have a favorite person you spoke to tonight?” Chris stands, yawning and stretching up on his toes. “It’s definitely time for bed, I can tell you that much.”

A blur of names and faces fan through my mind as I contemplate all the people I met. “I think the district attorney was an interesting woman. She had a lot of insight into law that I didn’t consider. I’d love to spend a day with her,” I tell him.

Chris smirks, shaking his head as if he knows something about her that he shouldn’t. “Ah, the good old district attorney. Yeah, she’s a real peach that woman.”

Unsure of how much I should ask but wanting to know more, I keep going. “What about her?”

“Ah, let’s just say she got the top job not in the most conventional way, but granted she’s good at what she does. That’s interesting that you would pick her as the person you want to be like.”

Not wanting to dissect his cryptic message, I notice he’s drained his drink. “All done?”

“Ah yeah, done. I guess I should get going. I’ll take a water, though, before I go. It’s a long walk down the hall,” he says, hinting at me getting him a water.

“Okay, water to go,” I reply sleepily, thinking I’m tired enough to finally drift off to sleep.

As I stand up to grab the water, Chris meets me at the mini bar, his bare hand skimming over my shoulder. “You know, New York is such the perfect city for a rendezvous. Don’t you think, Sophia. Shocked that he’s got his hands on my shoulder, I look at his lustful eyes staring at my breasts through the camisole.

I should have worn the robe…. “What are you doing?” I ask, feeling the bubbles of panic rise within. I pick up a clean tumbler, thinking of hitting him with it as he keeps stroking, thinking on my feet to distract him enough to stop.

His hands clamps down over my wrist with force stopping me. “What are you going to do with that, Sophia?” Wrestling with him, the sharp pain shoots through it as he squeezes wrestling with me.

“What are you doing? Stop it!”

“Come on, Sophia. It’s not like you don’t want me. You wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t. Don’t play shy now.” He grins as he grabs me around the waist.

“Chris, let me go! Stop it.”

“Shut up, otherwise you’re never going to see a fucking courtroom.” His movements are so quick and forceful, I’m unable to stop him in time. Gasping for air, I try to wriggle my arms, but he has them tucked in tight, immobilizing me. He pushes me down onto the bed, his body weight too much for me to shove off.

“Chris! I said no!” I yell out as one hand covers my mouth and the other holds my wrist in place above my head. His hot breath lands on my face.

“And I told you to shut up, didn’t I? You came to the door to seduce me. Don’t you think I see?” he growls, the evil lust showing on his face. I sob, powerless to his advances as his hand clamps over my mouth, his greedy fingers dipping inside my shorts, touching below my pubic bone, searching for entry.

Please, no. This can’t be happening to me. Please no. I beg you.

“Chris, enough. Stop!” He doesn’t listen, his fingers drawing closer to penetration.

He groans, his hard cock sticking into the side of my thigh. “You’re so hot, but you know everything comes at a price. You want these opportunities to make it this far, then this is the price you should pay.”